Suction cleaner



DEMAR SUCTION CLEANER May 1933.

Filed 19:52

INVENTOR HARR Y 5' EE TTORNE Patented May 9, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HARRY S. DEMAREE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE HOOVER COMPANY, OF

' NORTH CANTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO SUCTION CLEANER Application filed February 8, 1932. Serial No. 591,556..

The present invention relates to suction cleaners in general and particularly to suction cleaner nozzles. More specifically the invention comprises the provision of a suction cleaner nozzle having extremely thin surfacecontacting lips of the type commonly known as pile penetrating and which is provided with a relatively broad smooth surfacecontacting skid which extends within the nozzle and parallel to the nozzle lips for the purpose of preventing undue penetration of the surface pile by the penetrating lips for the further purpose of limiting the force required to move the cleaner over the surface covering undergoing cleaning.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and novel suction cleaner construction. It is a further object to provide, in a suction cleaner, a new'land novel nozzle construction. It is a still further object to provide a suction cleaner nozzle provided with pile penetrating lips in combination with a surface-contacting skid. These and other more specific objects will appear upon reading the following specification and claims and upon considering in connection therewith the attached drawing to which they relate.

In the drawing in which a preferred embodiment of the present invention is disclosed:

Figure 1 is a side view of a suction cleaner in which the present invention is embodied;

Figure 2 is a section through the nozzle of the cleaner shown in Figure 1 clearly disclosing the present invention;

Figure 3 is a bottom view ofthe nozzle shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a partial section upon the line H in Figure 2 looking-in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 5 isa View of-a portion of the skid element removed from the nozzle.

Referring to Figure 1 in particular a modern suction cleaner is disclosed which comprises the usual parts found in a suction cleaner including a nozzle 1, a fan chamber 2, and a motor casing 3, the fan chamber and motor casing housing the suction-creating fan and themotor therefor as in the usual suction cleaner construction. A dust bag 4:

is provided which is suitably attached to the exhaust outlet of the fan chamber 2 as inthe usual suction cleaner while front supporting wheels, of which only one is shown at 5, and a rear supporting wheel 6, render the cleaner readily movable over the surface undergoing cleaning. A pivoted handle 7 is provided,

the lower portion of which is shown in Figure 1, by which the operator may propel the cleaner. The foregoing comprise the usual parts of an ordinary suction cleaner and in themselves comprise no part of the present invention but instead form merely the general arrangement of parts in connection with which the present invention finds its usefulness.

Referring now to Figures 2 to 5, inclusive, the present invention is shown in detail. The nozzle 1 is formed of a casting, as in the usual cleaner construction, of a light, rigid and relatively brittle material such as aluminum which is itself undesirable as a surfacecontacting unit. In order to provide the requisite strength the walls of the nozzle 1 are made relatively thick as is shown in Figure 2, the front and rear nozzle walls being indi cated by the reference characters 8 and 9, respectively. Around the lower end of nozzle 1 is positioned a. suitable furniture guard 10' which is preferably formed of a soft resilient material such as rubber and whose function it is to protect articles of furniture with which the nozzle often comes into contact in the operation of the machine. Atthe lower edge of each of the nozzle walls 8 and 9 is secured a nozzle lip of rigid, durable and nonmarking material such as steel. The front nozzle lip is indicated by the reference char- 1 acter 11 while the rear lip-bears the reference character 12, both lips being suitably secured to the adjacent nozzle wall with which they contact by means of suitable rivets 13, 13 etc. Nozzle lips 11 and '12 differ from the usual nozzle lips in that they are quite thin, being of such a thickness that they are adapted to penetrate between adjacent tufts of pile of asurface covering and in fact between adjacent fibres of a single tuft of pile. Because of their penetrating ability lips 11 and 12 are able to agitate the pile of the surface cover ing undergoing cleaning to dislodge therefrom the embedded foreignmatter therein. They also function to direct the cleaning air to the base of the pile to permit it to remove the more deeply embedded foreign matter as they extend deeply into the surface covering, and all cleaning air must pass under them in gaining entrance to the nozzle 1 in the cleaning operation. The penetration of the lips 11 and 12, while effecting increased surface agitation and dirt removal, would unduly increase the force required to move the cleaner if permitted to become excessive. Inasmuch as high suction is desirable for the purpose of obtaining maximum cleaning effectiveness and in view of ,the fact that the greater the suction the greater the penetration of the penetrating lips it becomes necessary to provide some means to limit that penetration to a point at which the force requirement to move the cleaner is not excessive, yet which at the same time permits the necessary penetration to insure effective cleaning.

In the suction cleaner constructed in accordance with the present invention, a surface-contacting member or skid 14 extends the length of the nozzle and parallel to the lips 11 and 12, its main body or surfacecontacting portion being a smooth curved portion which extends substantially into the plane of the lower edge of the nozzle lips. The curve of the body portion of skid 14 is such that the member rides upon the top of the surface covering thereby functioning to prevent that covering from being lifted into the nozzle 1 at'its point of contact therewith in response to the reduced pressure existing therein. Skid 14 is suitably secured within the nozzle 1 by means of rivets 15, 15 at its ends which securely hold it to the end walls of the nozzle.

In the operation of the suction cleaner constructed in accordance with the present invention the suction-creating means create a reduced pressure within the nozzle 1 which functions to lift the surface covering undergoing cleaning into contact with the lips 11 and 12 and to lift the covering up into the nozzle between those lips. The skid 14 ex- 60 tending parallel to and between the nozzle lips and entirely across the nozzle functions to restrict that movement of the surfacecovering which would result in an excessive penetration of the lips 11 and 12, their height being fixed by the position of the nozzle. The member 14 is so positioned relative to the lips 1 1 and 12 that it permitssuflicient lifting of the surface covering to insure a desirable penetration of the lips yet prevents an undue penetration.

I claim:

1. In a suction cleaner, a nozzle, surfacecontacting lips on said nozzle defining the mouth thereof and including thin portions adapted to penetrate into the pile of a surface covering undergoing cleaning, and means positioned in said nozzle mouth and between said lips to limit their penetration into a surface covering undergoing cleaning.

2. In a suction cleaner, a nozzle, surfacecontacting lips on said nozzle defining the mouth thereof and including thin rigid portions adapted to extend into the pile of a surface covering undergoing cleaning, and a smooth surface-contacting skid carried by said nozzle and positioned between said lips.

Signed at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, this 5th day of February, A. D. 1932.

' HARRY S. DEMAREE. 

